Chair having a seat and back adjustable from upright to reclining position



June 12, 1956 E. EHRMAN 2,749,971

CHAIR HAVING A SEAT AND BACK ADJUSTABLE FROM UPRIGHT TO RECLINING POSITION Filed June 7, 1954 INVENTORQ Eff/V567 A-W/PMAA/ United States Patent CHAIR HAVING A SEAT AND BACK ADJUSTABLE FROM UPRIGHT TO RECLINING POSITION Ernest Ehrman, New York, N. Y.

Application June 7, 1954, Serial No. 434,953

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-416) This invention relates to tubular furniture structures and more particularly to a multiple purpose device.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide means facilitating a simplified construction of a frame for a piece of furniture made from tubular material which is of rigid construction and highly aesthetic appearance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means aifording the construction of various pieces of furniture and shapes thereof with one and the same type of parts, only a few of the same being required to compose the respective piece of furniture.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide means enabling easy and ready assembly and disassembly of the parts of which the piece of furniture is composed, whereby, for instance, a chair may be readily changed from an arm chair 'to a rocking chair or to a serving or table device, if desired.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means conducive to a light-weight construction of a piece of furniture, such as a chair, whose few parts may be readily placed in a flat carton when in disassembled condition for shipping and storing purposes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means redounding to a very practical furniture structure which may be converted into various other pieces of furniture of different use.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means affording a combination of pieces of furniture formed from two basic pieces or shapes "of material which is preferably tubular and may be made from metal, plastic, and similar formable materials.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of means simplifying and efficiently improving structures of furniture, whereby only two standard or base pieces are employed, which are movable relative to each other about a common pivotal axis to thereby attain predetermined desirable styles or types of furniture or to change from one type to another type, selectively.

These and other objects and features will become apparent from 'the following detailed description, reference being made to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a piece of furniture in the form of an arm chair embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the chair of Fig. 1 in a different position and changed to anoccasional or reclining chair;

Fig. 3 shows the chair of Fig. -2 transformed in a still further modified position to present a rocking chair;

Fig. 4 shows in perspective the chair of Fig. '1 as seen from the opposite side of Fig. 2 and pivotally trans formed into a serving wagon.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a chair made from tubular metal or plastic material or combinations thereof having two identical, S-shaped, bent parts 11, 12 and two further identical, V-shaped, bent parts 13, 14.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, part 11 comprises a rearwardly extending first tubular portion 15, a substantially vertically extending second tubular portion 16, a substan- 2,749,971 Ice Patented June 12, 1956 responding portions 19a and 20a.

In order to complete the chair 10 a rigid or flexible back rest or back supporting member 21 from plastic or wood material is detachably fixed in any suitable man ner known by clamping or spring clip means at 22 and 23 to the respective tubular portions 16 and 16a. A seat plate or like supporting member 25 is similarly detachably clamped'at 24 and 26 to the horizontally extending tubular portions 17 and 17a. V-shaped parts 13 and 14 are fixed to tubular portions 16, 17 and 16a, 1751 by means of bolt and nut connections 27, 27a; Sit, 3tia, for which respective apertures are provided in sections or portions 17, 17a and 16, 16a, as well as in tubular portions 19, 19a and 2t), Ztia to facilitate such fixation.

From the drawings it is further apparent that braces 28 and 29 extend intermediate the tubular portions 15, 15a and 18, 18a, respectively, and are attached thereto at 28a, 28b, and 29a, 2912, respectively, and for removal therefrom.

While according to Fig. l tubular portions 18, 18a and 29, 20a form respective legs for the chair 1%, the portions 19, 19a of parts 13 and 14 form, in this particular instance, horizontally extending arm rests for the chair 10.

As further indicated in Fig. 1, the ends of portions 18, 18a, 21), 20a and 19, 1% (Fig. 2) may be provided with rubber or floor engaging sleeves 18x, 13y, 211x, 28y and 19x, 19y, respectively, to prevent slidability of said chairs.

It is further to be observed, that V-shaped parts 13, 14 have each apertures at Ia, Ila, 1111a and lVa, Whereas S-shaped parts 11 and 12 have each apertures at 'I, II, III, IV and V.

If it is now desired to transform this arm chair of Fig. 1 into an occasional or reclining chair, as shown in Fig. 2, all that has to be done is to remove joints 27, 27a and brace 31 and swing parts 13 and 14 about common permanent pivot means 30, 30a (at Ill, Elia), whereby portions 19, 19a of tubular parts 13 and 1e assume a position as shown in Fig. 2 in which the arm rests 19, 19a now constitute rearwardly extending legs of the chair. The joints or connections 27, 27a, in such example, are then shifted from the position shown in Fig. l to a position illustrated in Fig. 2, brace 31 being inserted then between tubular portions 19, 19a at We. Brace 29 is sufficiently long to pass with its ends through respective registering apertures indicated at l on legs 18, 18a and at Ia on legs 21 241a, only different end fasteners (not shown) being employed than those used to hold brace 29 in position at locations 2%, 29b in apertures at I of Fig. 1.

It can thus be seen that there will be obtained a very sturdy chair structure which is extremely comfortable and readily conforms to the contour of the body of a person using the same.

Fig. 3 shows the chair of Fig. 1 further transformed into a rocking chair, whereby brace 31 is detached and V-shaped parts 13 and 14 are swung relative to S-shaped parts 11 and 12 about the pivots 311, 39a and brace 31 is restored, so that first portions 15, 15a form the foot rest together with the brace 28. The seat plate 25 and back rest or plate 21 are attached in the respective positions between horizontal portions 17, 17a and 18, 16a, respectively. As indicated in dot-and-dash lines, the

seat unit comprised of frame structure 11, 12 may swivel about pivot points 30, a, while the legs 19, 19a, in this particular instance, are braced at IVa-lVa by means of a cylindrical brace 31. The free ends of legs 19, 19a and of legs 20, Zila of said V-shaped parts 13, 14 contact a floor or like supporting surface during rocking of the S-shaped frame parts.

According to the invention the tubular chair of Fig. 1 may be further transformed into a sewing device or wagon 40, as seen in Fig. 4. Tubular portions 17, 17a form, in this particular instance, the standards of the serving wagon, whereas portions 18, 18:: function as handles on which are slidably mounted the handles proper 34, 35. A suitable board 41 extends between tubular portions 18, 18a and is fixed thereon by clamps or spring clips of known structure, as hereinabove indieated.

Portions 16, 16a are further provided with a clampedon board 42 (corresponding to board 21), while a third board 43 is clamped to tubular parts 13 and M, as may be visualized from Fig. 4. Seat boards 21, 25 are in this case removed, as is apparent from Fig. 4. If desired, seat board 21 may serve in place and instead of board 42.

In this serving wagon construction tubular portions 20, 20a are equipped with slid-on casters 44, 45 resting on and engaging the floor, while the tubular portions 15, 15a have somewhat smaller floor engaging casters 46, 47 suitably attached to the same. This type of slipon casters is well known in the art, each caster having a sleeve (not shown) bent rectangular to the axis of the respective caster or roller for insertion into or over the respective tubular end of said S-shaped members and said V-shaped members, as is well understood. Between tubular portions 15, 15a extends brace 28. it will be further noted that the ends of tubular portions 19, 19a are sufficiently spaced from the floor on which casters 44- to 47 may roll.

It will be further realized that the substantially S-shaped tubular means have apertures which are so arranged with respect to the apertures provided in the V-shaped tubular means that various combinations for the assembly of the V-shaped tubular parts either with each other or in combination with the S-shaped tubular parts may be effeetuated.

As seen in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the connections between the V-shaped tubular means and the S-shaped tubular means at the common pivot points III, Illa at 30, 30a remain unaltered for obtaining various types and different shapes of pieces of furniture for different uses.

The end portions or ends of the V-shaped as well as of the S-shaped tubular means may be provided with rubber or other sliding preventing means (Figs. 1 to 3) or with sleeve-shaped caster connectors which fit over the respective ends in order to facilitate moving of the piece of furniture from place to place (Fig. 4). It is further to be mentioned that between braces 28 and 31, as shown in Fig. 3, a coil spring or the like (not shown) may extend in order to enhance the stability as well as the rocking or swinging motion of the chair seen in Fig. 3.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided in ac cordance with the invention a piece of furniture con vertible into different shapes and for different purposes, comprising substantially V-shaped tubular means, substantially S-shaped tubular means, means common to and pivotally connecting approximately midway thereof said V-shaped means with said S-shaped means, whereby at least one end portion of each of said V-shaped means forms a leg for said furniture piece, said S-shaped means being movable relative to said V-shaped means about said pivot connection to assume predetermined positions relative to said V-shaped means, at least one end portion of each of said S-shaped means in certain shapes forming a complementary leg to said piece of furniture, and

brace means interconnecting said legs in assembled condition, said S-shaped tubular means including each a substantially horizontally directed end portion and an opposite end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said horizontal end portion.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A frame for a chair convertible from one shape to another shape; comprising a first pair of S-shapcd members, a second pair of substantially V-shapcd members, first means pivotally and permanently connecting one $-shaped member to an adjacent V-shaped member, second means pivotally and permanently connecting the other S-shaped member to the adjacent other V-shapcd member, said S-shaped members and said V-shaped members being provided with a plurality of apertures, detachable third means connecting through some of said apertures said V-shaped members to said S'shaped members when the former are disposed in one position for attaining said one shape, said V-shaped members being adapted to be swung to another position upon detachment of said third means, and fourth means adapted to be disposed through others of said apertures to detachably connect said S-shaped and said V-shaped members in said another position to attain said other shape.

2. A frame for a chair convertible from a substantially straight, upright chair to a reclining chair; comprising a first pair of substantially S-shaped members, a second pair of substantially V-shaped members, first pivot means permanently connecting one S-shaped member to an adjacent V-shaped member, second pivot means permanently connecting the other S-shaped member to the adjacent other V-shaped member, first cross-brace means connecting said S-shaped members with each other, second cross-brace means extending between said V-shaped members to interconnect the latter, detachable third cross-brace means connecting said V-shaped members to said S-shaped members adjacent one end of the latter when the former are disposed in one position for attaining said reclining chair, said V-shaped members being adapted to be swung about said first and second pivot means to another position upon detachment of said third cross-brace means and detachment of said second cross-brace means, and further means spaced from said pivot means and connecting said V-shaped members to said S-shaped members for obtaining said straight chair in said other position, said second cross-brace means and said third cross-brace means being thereafter reattached to complete said straight chair.

3. A frame for a chair convertible from one shape to another shape; comprising a first pair of substantially S-shaped members, a second pair of substantially V-shaped members, first pivot means permanently connecting one S-shaped member to an adjacent V-shaped member, second pivot means permanently connecting the other S-shaped member to the adjacent other V-shaped member, first cross-brace means connecting said S-shaped members with each other, second cross-brace means extending between said V-shaped members to interconnect the latter, detachable third means connecting said V-shaped members to said S-shaped members when the former are disposed in one position for attaining said one shape, said -V-shaped members being adapted to be swung about said first and second pivot means to another position upon detachment of said second crossbrace means and of said third means thereby attaining said other shape whereafter upon repositioning of said second cross-brace means and attaching said V-shaped members to said S-shaped members by a fourth means the frame of said other shape of said chair is assembled.

4. A frame for a piece of furniture convertible from one shape to another shape; comprising a first pair of S-shaped tubular members, a second pair of substantially V-shaped tubular members, first pivot means permanently connecting one S-shaped member to an adjacent V-shaped member, second pivot means permanently connecting the other S-shaped member to the adjacent other V-shaped member, said S-shaped members and said V-shaped members being provided with a plurality of apertures, detachable means connecting through some of said apertures said V-shaped members to S-shaped members when the former are disposed in one position for attaining said one shape, said V-shaped members being adapted to be swung about said first and second pivot means to another position upon disconnection of said detachable means from said V-shaped members and attaching said V-shaped members to said S-shaped members by a fourth means to attain said other shape, and floor engaging means connected with some of the tubular ends of said V-shaped 6 members and of said S-shaped members in said other position of said piece of furniture.

5. A frame according to claim 4, wherein said floorengaging means are in the form of rubber sleeves.

6. A frame according to claim 4, wherein said floor engaging means are in the form of casters.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

